Spend Some Time With Ricky Jay: The Congress of Wonders

[Richard Kaufman]

This looks like fun:
http://www.rickyjaycongressofwonders.com/

Ricky Jay's Congress of Wonders will take place July 11, 12, and 13th, 2014.

(Rhinebeck is 2 1/2 hours from Manhattan and can be reached on Amtrak's Empire Line from Penn Station.)

From the website:

Ricky Jay’s Congress of Wonders will be staged at the Historic Beekman Arms Delamater Inn & Conference Center in the heart of beautiful Rhinebeck, NY. This historic town will serve as a backdrop for three nights and two full days of magic, illusion, theatre and awe. Activities will be held in venues within walking distance of the hotel, and Rhinebeck’s fabulous restaurants will host our three dinners.

Below is an initial schedule of events for the Congress of Wonders. More details will become available as we approach July, 2014. Please check back for updates.

[Ricky Jay reserves the right to revise the guest artist roster and schedule at any time.]

3:00-5:00 PM Arrival and Registration

5:00 PM Cocktail Reception with Ricky Jay and his guests

7:00 PM Dinner at Beekman Arms

9:00 PM Screening Deceptive Practice, the Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay with Extra Extras (not on DVD); Extended Q&A with Ricky Jay and filmmakers Molly Bernstein & Alan Edelstein.

Saturday July 12, 2014
8:00-10:00 AM Breakfast

10:30-12 PM Michael Weber: ”Arcane Knowledge on a need to know basis” – An exercise in problem solving on demand.

12:30-1:30 PM Lunch

2:00-3:30 PM Gary Marcus: Practice and Expertise + Q&A

4:00-5:00 PM Steve Cuiffo: Magic and Theatre with performance and observations on practice.

5:00-7:00 PM FREE

7:00-8:30 PM Dinner – venue TBA

9:00-11:00 PM Ricky Jay: For the first time ever, Ricky Jay reveals the truth about dishonesty.

Sunday July 13, 2014
8:00-10 AM Breakfast

10:30-12:00 PM Michael Weber: Disconnecting the dots: The secrets of REDACTED revealed.

12:30-1:30 PM Lunch

2:00-3:30 PM Jesse Dylan interviewed on his diverse career. Screening never before seen episodes of CONversations with Ricky Jay (directed by Mr. Dylan).

4:00-5:00 PM Jules Fisher: The Magic of Light + Q&A

5:00-6:00 PM FREE

6:00-7:30 PM Dinner – venue TBA

8:00-10:00 PM Ricky Jay: Presentation, Performance, and Commentary

Monday July 14, 2014
11:00 AM Departure

[brianarudolph]

So who's going or seriously thinking about going?

[Bill Mullins]

My wife asked if this should be my Christmas present. I'm VERY conflicted -- this is one of those things that probably won't come along again. But after factoring in travel and other miscellaneous costs, I have to ask if this is the best way for my family to spend $2500 on my hobby.

[Richard Kaufman]

I think it's probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most people.

Yes, money is tight for many of us, but will you ever have the chance to hang out with folks like this among a small group again? Seems unlikely.

Trying to work out a way to go myself without my wife bringing out the rolling pin followed by the meat cleaver!

[Bill Mullins]

The obvious solution is for you to host another Genii Bash with Ricky Jay as guest.

[Dustin Stinett]

If wishing made it so...

[PickaCard]

This looks very interesting and a great way to celebrate my 40th.

However, this congress of wonders appears to be aimed at the general public, no?

I am not sure that as an amateur magician I will walk away with as much as a regular magic convention. I will get to see a lot of high caliber magic from Ricky Jay and Michael Weber, but I am not sure about the other guests...

Could anyone shed some light on this congress?

[Bill Mullins]

This looks very interesting and a great way to celebrate my 40th.

However, this congress of wonders appears to be aimed at the general public, no?

I am not sure that as an amateur magician I will walk away with as much as a regular magic convention. I will get to see a lot of high caliber magic from Ricky Jay and Michael Weber, but I am not sure about the other guests...

Could anyone shed some light on this congress?

From here:

Organized by a promoter who books fantasy music camps with rock stars,

I don't know what that means, but I wouldn't expect the event to be very much at all like a regular magic convention.

Sometimes an "odd" event can be very good -- I decided, at essentially the last minute, to attend the Erdnaseum a few years back. Those two days are some of the best "magic" memories I have -- but many magicians I know would likely have been bored to tears at it.

[Don Hendrix]

Only the cost is keeping me away.

[Bill Mullins]

The webpage for the event shows it as SOLD OUT.

[brianarudolph]

One last chance: although the all-inclusive packages are sold out, those wishing to attend but make their own food and lodging arrangements can do so for a $1,000 registration fee.

Don't know how long it will last; rumor has it that they intend to cap it at not too much beyond 100 attendees of any sort.

[Richard Kaufman]

Odd how they keep changing their minds.

It was $750 on one day to attend without hotel and meals, then that offer vanished in about 24 hours. Now it's $1k to register for events only.

They're probably at about 80 people, and if they get another 20 at that rate, it's $20k!

Full report will appear in Genii.

[Bill Mullins]

The producers of the Congress, Dreamcatcher Events, had these videos linked on their site.

CONversations with Ricky Jay

Invitation from RJ to the Congress of Wonders

[Bill Mullins]

This longish interview was done at the NYPL prior to the CoW. Transcript here.

[Richard Kaufman]

Guess they're not doing another one this year!

[Ian Keable]

Anyone know about the book Ricky Jay talks about in this interview: The Greatest German Living: Matthew Buchinger, 1674 - 1739?

[Richard Kaufman]

The book was scheduled for publication this year and pre-orders taken on many websites including amazon. Then without reason the publication was cancelled.